Ahhh-tumn Yosemite

Your Fall Getaway Plan for Yosemite

10.03.2019

Fall colors and fewer people are just a couple of reasons autumn is one of Yosemite’s most beautiful seasons. And Tenaya Lodge is ideal for making the most of your time here—perfectly mixing relaxation with Yosemite’s less-traveled trails.

Just three miles away, Mariposa Grove is a hikers’ haven. Wander among hundreds of giant sequoias that filter fall’s sunbeams (great for photos).

Don’t miss the famously named “easiest best hike in the world,” the 4.5-mile hike (round-trip, see the video!) connecting Sentinel Dome and Taft Point, two incredible lookouts including huge views of Half Dome and the eastern Sierra.

Yosemite in Fall

Later, kick back at one of Tenaya Lodge’s grand fireplaces or firepits (did someone say s’mores?) and share your photos from one of several Yosemite Tours from Tenaya Lodge.

Tenaya Lodge Explorer Cabins in Yosemite

ALL-NEW EXPLORER CABINS: A private cabin in Yosemite tucked among sugar pines? Yes please! Check out the brand-new Explorer Cabins at Tenaya Lodge.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Hidden Botanical Garden

    Forget a dozen roses. Give your love a botanical garden. Hidden on the western slope of Sonoma Valley’s Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma Botanical Garden has one of the Bay Area’s best displays of Asian flora—and it’s a brilliant place for a quiet picnic and some calming contemplations.

    View

  2. Sunnyvale and Salty

    For up-close bird watching, it’s hard to beat a walk along the San Francisco Bay. This 5-mile loop on the Sunnyvale coast is a favorite of local wildlife photographers.

    View
  3. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

    View
  4. woman hiking Buck Gulch Falls Novato

    Buck Wild!

    Tucked back beyond the residential ranch-style homes and golf courses of Novato in the North Bay is a wild and wondrous 30-foot waterfall that springs to life in the rainy season. Buck Gulch Falls in Novato’s Ignacio Valley Preserve is in peak flow right now, and it’s a short and Middle-earthy hike to reach it.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

    View
  2. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.

    View

  3. It's a Waterfall Life

    Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores is home to an easy day hike with a big bonus: a 60-foot waterfall that runs with remarkable gusto after winter rains.

    View

  4. Oh Snow Nice

    Live in California long enough, and you’ll come to know the rite of passage called “going to the snow”–when we ditch our fair-weather cities and towns in search of winter weather. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks deliver a winter wonderland worth a visit if there’s been a good dose of snow.

    View